Congratulations to the BIG WINNERS of the The Sun Singer's Fourth Birthday Party Book Give-Away this morning.

(DRUM ROLL OR OTHER APPROPRIATE RACKET)

First Place: Mary in Tennesee

Second Place: Chelle in New York

Third Place: Phyllis in California

While "The Sun Singer" is billed as a fantasy, it began in the purported real world:

The book's sun singer imagery stems from a childhood visit to Robert Allerton Park in Monticello, Illinois, with my grandparents where I did, in fact, see the primitive man, last centaur, fu dog, and sun singer statuary on a sunny afternoon and stormy evening as described in the book. Created in bronze by sculptor Carle Milles in 1931, the Sun Singer stands alone facing east in a 140-acre meadow in the park. The statue recently went through a major restoration.

West Wood Street and Fairview Park as used in the novel are in Decatur, Illinois. My grandparents lived on West Wood, and I spent a considerable amount of time playing on that street and in the nearby park. It was only natural to use these settings for Robert Adams' home and neighborhood.

The book's mountain settings are modeled exactly after Glacier National Park in Montana even though I changed most of the place names in the novel. The hotel referenced in the novel is Many Glacier Hotel on the east side of the park. I worked there as a bellman while in college and, in my off-work hours, hiked and climbed throughout the park.

Secrets

While "The Sun Singer" is billed as fiction, I'm of the opinion that stories become real in the telling of them. And with the dawn of reality, the secrets I enjoyed hiding throughout the book come to light. Once you have read the book, I will tell you three of them. Send me a message and ask me about The Three Staffs, The Garden of Heaven, and The Hollow Bone.

But do not ask me about The Sun Singer Talisman or The Haunting Temptress! I have to save something for future novels.

Many thanks to everyone who entered the birthday give-away and who has followed the sun singer on his journey.

__________________________